John Byrne

John Byrne's contribution to Scottish arts and culture is remarkable. He was a printmaker, illustrator, painter, theatre designer and writer. Byrne used many styles and techniques to avoid being pigeonholed into artistic styles or movements.

BIOGRAPHY

Byrne was born in Paisley, in the notorious Ferguslie Park housing scheme. Following his studies, Byrne won the Glasgow School of Art's most prestigious painting prize, the Bellahousten Award.

The artist was known for album cover designs for bands such as The Beatles, Billy Connolly and Gerry Rafferty. His works hang in The Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh, and GoMA and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow.

One of his most notable written creations is Tutti Frutti, winning six BAFTA awards and starring Robbie Coltrane, Emma Thompson and Richard Wilson. The National Library of Scotland named his work The Slab Boys as one of the 12 key works of the last 40 years.

In 2004 he became a member of the Royal Scottish Academy and a full member in 2007. Byrne was an Honorary Fellow of the Glasgow School of Art, and the Royal Institute of Architects in Scotland. He was an Honorary Member of Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, and had Honorary Doctorates from the universities of Paisley, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Strathclyde.